SEOUL – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen bilateral ties for mutual gain during a key meeting in the capital. Speaking with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Friday, Lee highlighted the shared neighborhood dynamics that bind the two nations.
‘We share the same courtyard as neighboring countries,’ Lee stated, according to Yonhap News Agency. He urged both sides to identify new areas of cooperation to foster relationships that benefit everyone involved. This comes hot on the heels of Lee’s recent trip to Japan, where he met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
The discussions in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, marked Lee’s second visit to Japan and his fifth summit with a Japanese premier since taking office in June. Their first encounter was in late October in Gyeongju, South Korea. On Tuesday, the leaders agreed to pursue ‘shuttle diplomacy’ with regular visits to advance future-oriented collaboration.
Lee noted that the swift follow-up meeting with Aso signals to the Korean public a potential rapid improvement in Seoul-Tokyo relations. Aso echoed this sentiment, calling the second summit in under three months crucial given shifting regional dynamics. ‘Closer cooperation is advantageous for both Japan and South Korea,’ he affirmed.
Lee returned from his two-day Japan trip on January 14 after in-depth talks on bolstering ties. The agenda included reaffirming commitments to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and exploring trilateral cooperation frameworks involving Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing for Northeast Asia’s stability.
Sensitive issues like South Korea’s import ban on Japanese marine products surfaced, especially as Seoul eyes joining the Japan-led CPTPP trade pact. Both sides agreed to pursue working-level talks to resolve these hurdles, setting the stage for deeper economic integration.